Grapefruit Fiber Sold As A Powder

Six grapefruit a day will keep the doctor away by lowering cholesterol, but not even Floridians with a tree in the back yard are going to eat that many.

Now they can get the same benefits by stirring a product called Pro-Fibe into their juice.

ProFibe, a water-soluble fiber product made from grapefruit pectin, was developed by Dr. James J. Cerda, a gastroenterologist and researcher at the University of Florida, and retired UF chemist Charles Burgin.

Cerda has been researching the cholesterol-lowering properties of citrus pectin for 20 years.

In a 1991 study published in the medical journal Circulation, he showed grapefruit pectin lowered cholesterol levels and reversed hardening of the arteries in pigs.

Human studies also found a reduction in cholesterol levels.

"We've studied about 100 people in an ongoing field trial and after 30 days, the average drop [in cholesterol) has ranged from 17 to 25 percent, which is extraordinary," he says.

The "bad,' or LDL, cholesterol has dropped as much as 30 percent, he says.

Cerda, professor of medicine and chief of the Nutrition Support Unit at UF, plans another university trial this year to determine whether the product reduces plaque in human arteries. Because the product was developed in the university's labs, UF gets royalties from the sales.

The only side effects have been an increase in the number of bowel movements, Cerda says, "and considering that the target group is middle-aged America, that's not a bad thing."

Pectin is a sticky substance found in fruit membranes and rinds. It has different properties than non-soluble fiber such as wheat bran.

"People have the mistaken impression that if they eat their breakfast cereal they're getting adequate fiber, but insoluble fiber has no effect on cholesterol," Cerda says.

Some health food stores and drug stores carry ProFibe; it is also available by mail. A 30-day supply costs $53.95. Call 1-800-756-3999 for more information.